A Passerine Bird's Evolution Corroborates the Geologic History of the Island of New Guinea

New Guinea is a biologically diverse island, with a unique geologic history and topography that has likely played a role in the evolution of species. Few island-wide studies, however, have examined the phylogeographic history of lowland species. The objective of this study was to examine patterns of phylogeographic variation of a common and widespread New Guinean bird species (Colluricincla megarhyncha). Specifically, we test the mechanisms hypothesized to cause geographic and genetic variation (e.g., vicariance, isolation by distance and founder-effect with dispersal). To accomplish this, we surveyed three regions of the mitochondrial genome and a nuclear intron and assessed differences among 23 of the 30 described subspecies from throughout their range. We found support for eight highly divergent lineages within C. megarhyncha. Genetic lineages were found within continuous lowland habitat or on smaller islands, but all individuals within clades were not necessarily structured by predicted biogeographic barriers. There was some evidence of isolation by distance and potential founder-effects. Mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence among lineages was at a level often observed among different species or even genera of birds (5–11%), suggesting lineages within regions have been isolated for long periods of time. When topographical barriers were associated with divergence patterns, the estimated divergence date for the clade coincided with the estimated time of barrier formation. We also found that dispersal distance and range size are positively correlated across lineages. Evidence from this research suggests that different phylogeographic mechanisms concurrently structure lineages of C. megarhyncha and are not mutually exclusive. These lineages are a result of evolutionary forces acting at different temporal and spatial scales concordant with New Guinea's geological history

Phylogeny and biogeography of the Enhydris clade (Serpentes: Homalopsidae)

Previous molecular phylogenetic hypotheses for the Homalopsidae, the Oriental-Australian Rear-fanged Water Snakes indicate that Enhydris, the most speciose genus in the Homalopsidae (22 of 37 species), is polyphyletic and may consist of five separate lineages. We expand on earlier phylogenetic hypotheses using three mitochondrial fragments and one nuclear gene, previously shown to be rapidly evolving in snakes, to determine relationships among six closely related species: Enhydris enhydris, E. subtaeniata, E. chinensis, E. innominata, E. jagorii, and E. longicauda. Four of these species (E. subtaeniata, E. innominata, E. jagorii, and E. longicauda) are restricted to river basins in Indochina, while E. chinensis is found in southern China and E. enhydris is widely distributed from India across Southeast Asia. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that these species are monophyletic and we recognize this clade as the Enhydris clade sensu stricto for nomenclatural reasons. Our analysis shows that E. chinensis is sister-species to a well-supported clade comprising the remaining species of the Enhydris clade (mean p distance between E. chinensis and other in-group taxa was 13.1%, range: 12.7-13.4%). Enhydris innominata, E. longicauda and E. jagorii also formed a strongly supported clade with very low interspecific p distances (mean 0.28%, range: 0–0.46%). We were unable to resolve relationships between E. enhydris and E. subtaeniata (mean divergence of 9.4%, range: 9.2-9.7%), and between these two species and E. innominata, E. longicauda and E. jagorii. We summarize classical morphological (scalation and coloration) characteristics of these species in the context of the molecular phylogeny. The Enhydris clade comprises a substantial portion of the vertebrate biomass of Southeast Asia and we discuss aspects of its biogeography, morphology and systematics

Fascinating and forgotten: the conservation status of the world's sea snakes

An assessment of marine elapid snakes found 9% of marine elapids are threatened with extinction, and an additional 6% are Near Threatened. A large portion (34%) is Data Deficient. An analysis of distributions revealed the greatest species diversity is found in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Three of the seven threatened species occur at Ashmore and Hibernia Reefs in the Timor Sea, while the remaining threatened taxa occur in the Philippines, Niue, and Solomon Islands. The majority of Data Deficient species are found in Southeast Asia. Threats to marine snakes include loss of coral reefs and coastal habitat, incidental bycatch in fisheries, as well as fisheries that target snakes for leather. The presence of two Critically Endangered and one Endangered species in the Timor Sea suggests the area is of particular conservation concern. More rigorous, long-term monitoring of populations is needed to evaluate the success of "conservation measures" for marine snake species, provide scientifically based guidance for determining harvest quotas, and to assess the populations of many Data Deficient species

BFA 2015-2016 Senior Show Catalog

Carnation Pink - design - Kat Ashford What If - design - Noah Schrader Weekend Warrior - design - Olivia Kincaid Variant - design - Brianna Babcock Rockhounder - design - James McCahon Jemika (Jessica, Michelle, Katherine) - design - Jessica Guerra Driving Fast Car - photography - Chris Rasmussen The House that I Grew Up In, Of Which I Often Dream - design - Lex Aquilina Rational But Not Animal - design - Ryan Cook Uncharted Territory - design - Jessica Byrd Earthly Soles - design - Robyn Barta Eulogy - drawing - Arlene Cortes Mahalo Come Again - design - Haylee Soma Way of the Mind - drawing - Jacob Lucca Foreign Exchange - design - Grace Pan Unidentified Species - drawing - Gabriel Voris Following Cairn - design - Sydney Hallman Bear with One Another - sculpture - Ellen Cambruzzi Jayden - photography - Stella Sim Until Trees Sing - painting - Hannah Brown Fruition - design - Leslie Chung Death or Rest - interdisciplinary - Sarah Sundberg Lethe - painting - Rachel Emenaker Hammer and Nail - design - John Griffith Heirlooms - Jenn Jenison Is This remembrance... - photography - Natalie Crane Bad Luck For A Long Time - sculpture - Allison Winters Excuse Me - photography - Rachel Malek Bleach Dry - design - Tyler Cash In You - drawing/painting - Choongman Lee Confession - design - Hannah Hughes Nonmonotonous - sculpture - Rachel Crichton Dark - design - Sarah Starck Book design concept by Melanie Kim.Book layout by Melanie Kim and Chad Swanson.https://digitalcommons.biola.edu/exhibit-catalogs/1005/thumbnail.jp